Up against a wall: HoCo Javion Johnson choses Miles College for more than basketball

The decision had to be made and it had to be made soon. Former Houston County guard Javion Johnson was running out of time in regards to making a decision on where he was going to continue not only his playing career but his education. College was calling but which one would Johnson ultimately answer. After visiting the Fairfield, Alabama campus of Miles College -located six miles west of Birmingham- on July 31 the biggest decision of his life was over and the future was quickly coming into view. “I loved it from the get go,” says Johnson, it felt like a brotherhood from the first workout.” The feeling of family had much to do with Johnson playing ball at Miles, better still, it had everything to do with it.

A Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Miles College was founded in 1898 by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) and plays it’s Division II sports in the 15-team Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Johnson’s 250-mile journey from Houston County High School -a journey that started as a freshman at Veterans High School- to a 188-year old institution and college basketball was not always an easy one. According to Johnson, becoming a college basketball player didn’t always seem possible, “When I was growing up I wasn’t as skilled as the other kids my age but by the summer between my sophomore year and junior year I started getting some recognition from colleges and realized that it was possible.” His coach for the past three years, Houston County High School basketball coach Stephen Walls, saw signs of Johnson’s potential early on and the his efforts on and off court have only strengthened Walls’ belief. “Javion is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coached,” said Walls via text. “I have coached a lot of kids and I’ve never coached a player that improved as much as he did.”

That level of commitment to play basketball on the collegiate level runs deep into Johnson’s bloodstream, he has three older brothers that played sports in college including former Houston County High School and Tennessee Tech forward Daniel Northern. Northern played professionally overseas in England, Japan, Spain and Portugal and is a constant inspiration to Johnson of what can happen when the hard work matches the dreamscape, when an opportunity turns in a reality. Scholarship in hand, the transition from high school ball to the college game is the next challenge facing Johnson, “I know I have to keep on the weights and work out every chance I get,” says the 6-4 guard, “maintain a schedule, get bigger, stronger and develop my game.” The Golden Bears finished the 2015-16 season with a 17-13 overall record (14-5 in conference) and will be returning the majority of their starting lineup after graduating three seniors. Johnson is joining head coach Leon Douglas and a veteran squad next year, he’s starting over again and will have to build the trust of another coaching staff in a new city and entirely different environment from what he’s been accustomed to. “I’ve never lived anywhere outside of Warner Robins but I’m going to get use to it,” says Johnson. Walls believes his former player is in a good place for just that, “Javion is coachable and will work as hard as he can to succeed at the college level. He will grow and develop into exactly who he needs to be,” says Walls. Despite the distance Johnson’s family -his mother Michelle and stepfather Ty Toyer plan on attending games- and friends will get the opportunity to see him play soon enough, the Golden Bears share the SIAC East Division with Georgia schools Albany State, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and nearby Fort Valley State. Of all of the games, not surprisingly, the home and away games against Fort Valley State stand out to Johnson, “That’s going to be crazy, I’m looking forward to it.” There’s even a chance Johnson will play one of his early college games on national television when Miles College plays a Division I opponent on the road.

Before he settled on staying in the south, Johnson almost committed to Southwestern College, an NAIA program- in Winfield, Kansas. Up against a wall with the clock running out Javion Johnson never panicked and it looks like his patience -in both his game and college choice- paid off. “I’m very excited to experiencing a new environment and looking forward to a new atmosphere,” he says. “I’m going to miss my [high school] teammates because we are so close, you mess with one of us, you get all of us. That’s my family.” His new family will be waiting for him at Miles College as he will be leaving town on Tuesday to join them. His old family will be here when he comes back though. That he knows for sure. “I love him as a player but I will miss him more as a person,” says Walls. “Javion was the last guy out of the locker room every night and always stayed around to talk about the game with me.”

HHJ News